This unique example of Nguzu idle comes from the remote Island of Ranongga (Solomon Islands), which is known for its river stone used for fine sculptures.
This stone has a porous heart, if you scroll the surface the sensation recalls picking dust, like a material in perpetual crumbling. Its distinctive veins made by river sediments blend the figure from bluish-grey to sand yellow, which create a sort of intimidating movement, expressed also by its swollen and hieratic traits. It seems that the Nguzu threatening gazes the observer.
Ranonnga is the most Western Island of the Western Solomon Islands, in the rough Solomon Sea, in front of Vona-Vona Lagoon in New Georgia archipelago. Ranonnga islanders has always traded with the main islands, Gizo overall, the biggest village in the area, crossing the dangerous straight among the two islands.
We bought this fascinating idle directly by Ranonnga islanders, sitting on their canoes during an heating afternoon of August, right after they had crossed the straight. This latter is dangerous also for motor boat, which takes more than one hour to cross it.
Ranonnga Islander
A greeting is more than a common crossing costume, it is an invite to discuss a business in the Vona-Vona lagoon, it’s a sign to indicate that he has exchange goods.
The Nguzu Idle aims to keep away the water spirits, to drive the boat among the beveled coral barrier, to protect the warrior on board, for this reason the Nguzu is placed always on the canoe’s bow. It symbolically corresponds to our figurehead.
Nguzu is Solomon canoe's fronthead
The chin in two fists means warrior, while the human head shaped grasped between the fists represents an head-hunter, typical local attitude ended with the World War II, which had Solomon Islands as main theater in the Pacific (J.F. Kennedy was wounded in the Vona Vona lagoon)
Skulls as war trophy in a village chief grave on a small southern cay of the Vona-Vona lagoon